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Progressive Caucus Rejects Radical Ryan Budget, Highlights Support for Back to Work Budget

3/21/13

Washington, D.C. – The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) unanimously voted against the Republican Ryan budget today and highlighted the 84 votes cast yesterday for its Back to Work Budget, which creates almost 7 million jobs over the first year and reduces the deficit by $4.4 trillion over the next decade.

“Budgets are about choices, and the Back to Work Budget chooses investing in America’s working families,” CPC Co-Chairs Reps. Raúl M. Grijalva and Keith Ellison said. “The Republican Ryan budget ignores the results of the 2012 elections and protects the world’s biggest corporations at working families’ expense. The country needs jobs right now, not a budget that takes away health care and gives massive tax breaks to millionaires and billionaires.”

The Back to Work Budget repeals the arbitrary budget sequester and the Budget Control Act spending caps that are damaging the economy. It reduces unemployment to near 5 percent in three years with a jobs plan that includes repairing our nation’s roads, bridges and schools and putting teachers, cops and firefighters back to work.

The Republican budget slashes investments in nearly every area, costing us more than 2 million jobs in 2014 and sending the economy into a deeper recession. It leaves up to 50 million people uninsuredand raises costs for those lucky enough to keep their health care coverage. The Ryan alternative gives an average of $200,000 a year in tax breaks to millionaires and raises taxes on middle-class Americans. The American people choose our path.

“The Back to Work Budget is what the country voted for in November. It’s time we side with America’s middle class and working families instead of leaving them to go it alone. We believe in the American people and a government that works for everyone, and that’s what this budget delivers.”